Next Article in Journal
The Challenges of Using Large Language Models: Balancing Traditional Learning Methods with New Technologies in the Pedagogy of Sociology
Previous Article in Journal
Supporting Early Childhood Preservice Teachers to Effectively Integrate STEM in Their Future Teaching Practice
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Education Sciences
Volume 15
Issue 2
10.3390/educsci15020190
education-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Game-Based Learning to Promote Clinical Reasoning: An Innovative Educational Proposal in Pediatric Dentistry

by
Nicoletta Zerman
1,2,
Roberta Silva
3,
Elisa Bonfadelli
1,
Susanna Puecher
3,*,
Gianna Marogna
1,
Rachele De’Manzoni
1,
Marinella Beccherle
1 and
Luigina Mortari
3
1
Department of Surgical, Stomatological, and Paediatric Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
2
Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Unit, IRCCS—Sacro Cuore Hospital of Negrar, 37024 Verona, Italy
3
Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020190
Submission received: 8 November 2024 / Revised: 23 January 2025 / Accepted: 29 January 2025 / Published: 5 February 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Higher Education)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Pediatric dentistry requires different professional knowledge and skills, including technical and analytical thinking skills, essential for deep clinical reasoning. To analyze the students’ awareness of their cognitive processes when solving clinical problems, a qualitative and inductive study with second and fifth year students in the Degree Course in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics at the University of Verona was conducted. Adopting a phenomenological approach, it focused on participants’ lived experiences, gathering their reflections on solving clinical problems through two structured questions. The data, analyzed using content analysis, revealed that sometimes students focused on operational steps rather than reflecting on them, and underscored the necessity of innovating university teaching methods to enhance reflective moments. To respond to this need, a literature review was conducted, underscoring the value of active learning in innovating dentistry education. Accordingly, a game-based learning activity was elaborated: a dental-themed adaptation of the games where you guess an image without using certain predetermined words. Its goal is to create an interactive and engaging environment that facilitates sharing and reflection, challenging students to apply their competencies to practical scenarios. Finally, our research identified students’ educational needs to develop teaching strategies that shape their reflective process in clinical reasoning so as to be more deliberate and conscious.
Keywords: dentistry education; higher education; game-based learning dentistry education; higher education; game-based learning

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zerman, N.; Silva, R.; Bonfadelli, E.; Puecher, S.; Marogna, G.; De’Manzoni, R.; Beccherle, M.; Mortari, L. Game-Based Learning to Promote Clinical Reasoning: An Innovative Educational Proposal in Pediatric Dentistry. Educ. Sci. 2025, 15, 190. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020190

AMA Style

Zerman N, Silva R, Bonfadelli E, Puecher S, Marogna G, De’Manzoni R, Beccherle M, Mortari L. Game-Based Learning to Promote Clinical Reasoning: An Innovative Educational Proposal in Pediatric Dentistry. Education Sciences. 2025; 15(2):190. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020190

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zerman, Nicoletta, Roberta Silva, Elisa Bonfadelli, Susanna Puecher, Gianna Marogna, Rachele De’Manzoni, Marinella Beccherle, and Luigina Mortari. 2025. "Game-Based Learning to Promote Clinical Reasoning: An Innovative Educational Proposal in Pediatric Dentistry" Education Sciences 15, no. 2: 190. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020190

APA Style

Zerman, N., Silva, R., Bonfadelli, E., Puecher, S., Marogna, G., De’Manzoni, R., Beccherle, M., & Mortari, L. (2025). Game-Based Learning to Promote Clinical Reasoning: An Innovative Educational Proposal in Pediatric Dentistry. Education Sciences, 15(2), 190. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020190

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop